Since 1910, water from Salmon Creek has been stored in Conconully Reservoir, which is delivered to agricultural fields within the Okanogan Irrigation District, via ~ 12 miles of Salmon Creek.  In addition,  the North Fork of Salmon Creek is diverted into Salmon Lake, an off-channel storage reservoirs, via a feeder canal.  Water is then released from Salmon Lake to augment storage of Conconully Reservoir.   Both reservoirs are near the town of Conconully, about 17 miles northwest of Okanogan. Two pumping plants supplement the water supply during water-short years.  Shell Rock Pump Station lifts water from the Okanogan River, and Duck Lake Pumping Plant withdraws water from Duck Lake.

Salmon Creek, a tributary to the Okanogan River, is considered to be one of the most significant opportunities to restore summer steelhead in the Okanogan Basin.  This project reconnects the Okanogan River with approximately 11 miles of habitat conducive for spawning and rearing of summer steelhead.  During controlled water releases in 2003, approximately 25 cfs was required for fish migration downstream of the diversion dam.  During 2008 a "low-flow" channel was constructed downstream of the diversion dam which provided suitable fish passage conditions at approximately 10 cfs.  The low flow channel extended the duration of water available through a 12-year water lease program.  During 2011, uncontrolled spill exceeded 500 cfs resulting in an undistinguishable low flow channel.  Extensive construction work will be necessary to reestablish a channel after the irrigation season in 2012, which will facilitate fish passage at reduced discharge in future years.  

Evaluation of the migration conditions and the stability of the low-flow channel will continue during the extent of the current water lease (2017).  Minor modifications of the low-flow channel are expected during normal run-off years.